Hello Kitty Cafe at Changi Airport Terminal 3 is the first 24-hour Hello Kitty Cafe in the world. Every Hello Kitty Cafe is different and in Singapore, the Hello Kitty wears two ribbons. (Fun Fact: Do you know that there is only one Hello Kitty mascot going around the world at a time? That’s because Hello Kitty is a real person and as a real person, you can’t appear at two places at one time. I am serious! That said, Hello Kitty has arranged her busy schedule to be in Singapore in June!)

Different Hello Kitty Cafes have different themes and menus, adapting to local cultures. In Singapore, the theme is an orchid garden with some very beautiful real orchids; orchid, of course, is Singapore’s national flower. The menu has also some Singaporean touches. No pork or lard is used; they are applying for halal certification.

Big Breakfast Surprise ($18.50): Spot the Hello Kitty-shaped waffles.

Some people lament that the food is bad after a 3-hour queue. I think after a 3-hour queue of standing until leg sore, no food can taste good. They arrange the queue so that it turns and snakes. For every row of queue, expect to queue 1 hour. If you’re at the third row, it’s a 3-hour wait.

Having no expectations of the cafe, I have to say it exceeded my expectations; the food is not bad.

My Hello Kitty latte got oh-ba-kak. Hahaha.

If you are going for cute food, the big breakfast ($18.50) has a Hello Kitty-shaped waffles, and Let’s Do the Salsa ($16.50) is a Hello Kitty-shaped focaccia sandwich with shredded chicken.After trying 5 savory dishes, my favorite, cowabunga wagyu ($24), is beef rendang. The spices aren’t as strong as your average neighborhood rendang, and depending on your luck, some beef pieces may be tough. But when you get a tender piece, with the zingy pineapple rempah, it’s quite magical.

The Cat in Paradise ($18.50): Spin on Chinese-styled mango pudding with hazelnut gelato

If you need desserts, go straight for the soft served yogurt (from $4.90). It’s light, easy, refreshing. While the other desserts are not bad, they are costly.

I came to Hello Kitty Cafe in a blase, hipster mood, viewing everything cynically. But at the cafe, I got excited. The mood was infectious and of utmost important; if you come to Hello Kitty Cafe, you don’t really expect Michelin-starred food. I whatsapped Mr Fitness to convey my excitement and he joked, “You’re a man but you’re a little girl at heart.” Sure, I’ll embrace my inner girl. There is nothing shameful about it.